Qu'est-ce que c'est "Buddy"?

This week, I took action on an idea that had been in my head for a couple of days, and its transformed & energised my business plan tremendously!

I've buddied up with an old colleague who is also at the same stage in thinking of starting his own business and we have dedicated 2 hours a week to bounce ideas around each other's business plans.

Here's how it works - we take it in turns to focus on each other's idea - being coach, mentor, challenger and inspirer of the other one. We bat around the topics that are bugging us, that are stopping us from progressing, and examine new ways round those barriers we have encountered. In essence, we are helping each other through each step of the journey. At the end of the session a committment on what is to be done in the next 2 weeks is made, with a penalty that if you don't do it then you put £20 on the table - so there's a strong motivation to move forward!

Its a classic quid pro quo arrangement - in return for me helping him, he helps me. Its not competitive (well so far its not been!) because we are looking at completely different things as a business and we know the value in helping each other out.

So far there have been 5 benefits for me...

1. Sharing the load - I can now share my problems, worries & frustrations with somebody who is also in the same boat, who I know won't be judging me or who I worry won't want to invest in my business plan, where as in the past I've been trying to justify why my idea is great!
2. Challenging my perspective & offering a fresh perspective - I've been carrying my business idea around in my head for just over a year and I've "landed" certain ways of developing my idea, and in just one session I've re-considered those ideas, making them something that can actually happen by my impact, not waiting for somebody else to stump or the cash or make something happen - it is now in my own hands!
3. Excitement & re-energised - The new ideas and the challenges have made me not only feel more confident in my idea, but also that I don't need to wait for other people for me to realise this idea. I can take small steps on my own, making it less of a leap when I need others (i.e. money men!) to come on board.
4. Committed - I now know I have a number of smaller tasks to complete in the next two weeks and have a defined deadline, which makes me more commited
5. Less scary - by breaking the tasks down into things I can do right now, and making them to be delivered in the next two weeksmakes them far more tangible, and makes me feel that I can make it happen.

So I would strongly advocate getting to know somebody that also has a business to develop, ideally at the same stage that you are at, and get stuck in!